Live Updates: Germany’s Coronavirus Cases Jump to 79,696 as One Million Infected Globally

The worldwide number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease has reached 1,015,709, according to Johns Hopkins University.

China has registered 29 new imported cases of COVID-19 and two cases of internal transmission within the past 24 hours, with four people having died of the disease, the National Health Commission said on Friday.

No new cases of the coronavirus have been registered in the province of Hubei, where the city of Wuhan – the epicenter of the pandemic – is located.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 5,000 people have died of the disease worldwide within the past 24 hours.

The outbreak of COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic on 11 March by the World Health Organization, erupted in late December in Wuhan and left 81,620 Chinese citizens infected, with 3,322 fatalities, according to the National Health Commission.

To date, more than 1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with about 53,000 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.

17:45

France Says Number of Coronavirus Patients in Intensive Care Units Rises to 6,662

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced stricter measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus.

These include a ban on going outside for people younger than 20
(previously, only those who are older than 65 were forbidden to leave
their houses) and compulsory mask-wearing in public places.

Erdogan added that starting from Saturday night, entries and exits from 30 major towns as well as entry and exit points to Zonguldak province, will be closed. The ban will remain in place for the next 15 days and can be extended if necessary.

TORONTO
(Sputnik) – The Canadian government is allocating $71 million to
support food supply in vulnerable communities amid the growing novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced
on Friday.

“The government will provide C$100 million [US$71 million]
to meet
the urgent food needs of vulnerable Canadians, including those living in
indigenous and northern communities,” Trudeau said during a daily
briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau said food banks and other organizations have seen a significant drop in donations and volunteers amid the pandemic, forcing the federal government to take action.

16:33

First Three COIVD-19 Cases Registered in Malawi, Only 4 African States Yet Unaffected

The
government of Malawi confirmed on Friday that the first three COVID-19
cases were registered in the country, bringing the number of countries
on the continent that have not officially registered cases of the
disease down to four.

In the televised address to the nation, president Peter Mutharika
said that a 61-year-old woman who had recently traveled to India, as
well as two of her contacts, tested positive for the disease.

Only four other countries in Africa — Lesotho, South Sudan, Comoros, and Sao Tome and Principe — have not reported any COVID-19 cases yet.

16:13

Lagos Discharges Four More COVID-19 Patients

The Lagos state government has announced the discharge of four coronavirus patients.

Meanwhile, 18 patients had earlier been discharged, after making full recovery from the novel virus.

With this development, Lagos state government has discharged 22 of its 98 confirmed cases,

The
number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has reached 1,986, with 196 of
them being registered over the past 24 hours, the country’s Health
Ministry said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the disease in the country has increased to 181, and a total of 134 patients have recovered.

In late March, Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared a health
emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. As a part of measures to curb
the pandemic, the authorities have also temporarily banned entry and
transit services for foreign nationals.16:01

Russian
and Serbian experts have discussed the engagement of Russian medical
experts, arriving in the country to assist the fight against the
coronavirus, and have agreed that they will operate in areas with
unfavorable epidemiological situation, the Russian Defense Ministry said
on Friday.

“The first meeting of Russian and Serbian military experts was held
at the Batajnica air base, located 20 kilometers [12.4 miles]
to the
north-west of Belgrade, under supervision of Serbian Defense Minister
Aleksandar Vulin. They focused on defining the possible areas of
deployment of the Russian assistance arriving in Serbia,” the Russian
Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It has been decided, following consultations, that Russian medical
experts will be working in areas with the most difficult epidemiological
situation: Belgrade, Cuprija, Valjevo, Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac and
Kikinda.

“Experts from the Russian Defense Ministry’s Nuclear, Biological and
Chemical Protection Troops may be engaged in the disinfection of a
military town … where coronavirus cases have been registered among
Serbian military,” the ministry went on to say.15:31

COVID-19 Pandemic ‘Threat’ to Global Food Security – UN Chief

The
novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic not only represents a threat to
international peace but also puts at risk food security, UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a press briefing on Friday.

“It is a threat to food security too, and, obviously, we must make sure that all supply chains are maintained,” Guterres said.

He added that it is critical to ensure that food and medical supply
chains are not disrupted, especially in developing countries.

In March, Guterres launched a $2 billion appeal to respond to challenges posed by COVID-19 in the poorest and most vulnerable places in the world.

15:12

Number of Сoronavirus Cases in Canada Rises to Almost 12,000, Death toll up by Almost 20%

15:12

New York State Sees Highest Increase of COVID-19 Deaths, Toll Rises to 2,935 – Governor Cuomo

Singaporean
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Friday that starting from
April 7, schools and most workplaces across the country will close for
one month in the light of the quickly spreading COVID-19 pandemic.

“We should make a decisive move now to preempt escalating infections.
We will, therefore, impose significantly stricter measures. This is
like a circuit breaker. It will help to reduce the risk of a big
outbreak occurring. This circuit breaker will apply for one month,” the
prime minister said in a televised address to the nation broadcast on
his Facebook account.

The official added that residents should stay at home and go out only
if necessary, for instance, to go to work or a nearby shop. Markets,
shops, hospitals and banks will continue to operate as usual. Beginning
April 8, Singaporean students and schoolchildren will be transferred to
distance learning, while kindergartens will close.14:46

Japan Verifies Record High of Over 300 New COVID-19 Cases Per Day – Reports

The
number of new COVID-19 cases in one day in Japan for the first time
since the pandemic’s onset has exceeded 300, bringing the cumulative
total to 3,800 infected people, Japanese media reported on Friday.

According to the NHK broadcaster, summarizing data from local
Japanese authorities, 325 new confirmed COVID-19 cases have been
recorded over the past 24 hours as of 9 p.m. (12:00 GMT) Friday,
including 89 cases in Tokyo and 35 cases in Osaka.

The toll of COVID-19 in Japan has thus increased to 3,813 cumulative
cases, the plurality of them in Tokyo (773) and among passengers of the
Diamond Princess cruise ship (712), and 88 people have died.

According to the Japanese Health Ministry’s forecast, the peak of the infection in Japan might claim up to 229,500 cases.14:24

Foreign
visitors in Australia should make all possible arrangements to return
to their home countries so that the Australian government can protect
its own citizens and residents during the COVID-19 outbreak, Prime
Minister Scott Morrison said during a press conference on Friday.

“If you’re a visitor in this country, it is time, as it has been now
for some while … to make your way home and to ensure that you can
receive the supports that are available where they are in your home
countries,” Morrison said.

The Australian prime minister stated that his call for foreign
visitors to return home was motivated by the desire to ensure that the
country’s citizens and permanent residents could be suitably supported
by the government amid the economic disruption caused by the pandemic.

“At this time, Australia must focus on its citizens and its residents
to ensure that we can maximize these economic supports that we have,”
Morrison remarked.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, approximately 1.6
million temporary visa holders are currently resident in Australia and
are not eligible to receive social security benefits.14:10

BRICS New Development Bank Issues About $705Mln Bonds to Help China Fight COVID-19

The
BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has issued bonds worth RMB 5 billion
yuan (about $705 million) in the China Interbank Bond Market to assist
Beijing in combating the coronavirus, the bank said in a press release
on Friday.

“On April 2, 2020, the New Development Bank successfully issued a
3-year RMB Coronavirus Combating Bond in the China Interbank Bond
Market. The Bank raised RMB 5 bln, garnered interest from a high-quality
diversified investor base both onshore in mainland China, as well as
offshore … The aim of this bond issue is to support the Chinese
Government in the financing of public health expenditure in Hubei,
Guangdong and Henan provinces that are hit the hardest by COVID-19,” the
press release said.

According to the NDB, the pandemic has heavily affected both the population and the economy of the country. Therefore, the bank issued these bonds to finance a loan worth RMB 7 billion ($989 million), the first emergency assistance given by the NDB to China in late March.

The
European Union cancels certain taxes and duties on import of medical
equipment to ease procurement for medical institutions during the
coronavirus epidemic, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
said on Friday.

“Hospitals, doctors & nurses need quality medical equipment and
it must remain affordable. To make sure of this, we will no longer levy
taxes & duties on imports of such products into the EU during the
#coronacrisis,” von der Leyen said on Twitter.13:17

More Than 11,000 People Arrested in Sri Lanka for Breaching COVID-19 Curfew – Reports

Police
in Sri Lanka have arrested 11,019 people for violating the curfew
imposed earlier in March to curb the transmission of COVID-19 in the
island nation, Sri Lankan media reported.

According to the Ada Derana news outlet, police have also confiscated
2,727 vehicles in connection with COVID-19 curfew violations of their
owners to be kept in custody until the pandemic threat is lifted.

Sri Lanka imposed a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew over the pandemic on
March 20 with several subsequent extensions. The government warned
people about police being mandated to sanction violators even without
warrants and about a subsequent strict legal action.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka as of Friday is 151
confirmed cases, including four fatalities, according to the latest
situation report by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health.12:48

The
European Union has decided to delay the application of new rules on
medical devices so that all efforts can be aimed at fighting the
coronavirus pandemic, EU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas
said on Friday.

“We are delaying the entry into application of new EU rules on
medical devices so that we can have our medical industries pouring all
their energy into helping fight #COVID19. We are leaving no stone
unturned in our support to national public health systems in their hour
of need,” Schinas wrote on Twitter.

The initiative was proposed by the EU Commission earlier in the day
in order to ensure that the necessary medical devices can be available
on the market during the crisis triggered by the spread of the virus.12:48

The
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed on Friday that
the first staff member in the western city of Herat was diagnosed with
the coronavirus, adding that the organization is stepping up its support
for the Middle Eastern country to help fight the pandemic.

“As the United Nations ramps up its support to Afghanistan’s
government and people in the fight against COVID-19, the Organization
today confirms that a national staff member in Herat tested positive for
COVID-19. Our colleague is the first UN worker in the country to have
tested positive. He is presenting mild symptoms and our hope is that he
will soon be on the path to full recovery,” the mission said in a press
release.

According to the press release, UN agencies are backing all measures
taken by the local government to contain the spread of the disease. In
particular, four testing centers have opened in the cities of Kabul,
Herat and Jalalabad, while several others will begin operating soon. In
addition, 34,000 front line health workers are engaged in disease
surveillance, and the agencies are helping to accelerate the local
procurement of key products, such as soap.

“Also, yesterday, the World Bank approved a US$100.4 million grant for Afghanistan’s emergency response and health systems preparedness,” the mission added.

12:40

First Plane With Russian Military Specialists Lands in Serbia

12:29

Watch First Plane With Russian Military Specialists Leaves For Serbia to Help Fight Against COVID-19

12:07

Vietnam’s Total Coronavirus Cases Rise to 237, no Deaths

Saudi
Arabia has decided to impose a curfew in three provinces starting from 3
p.m. (12:00 GMT) until further notice over the current COVID-19
situation, the state news agency SPA reported on Friday, citing a source
in the Interior Ministry.

The source said that the curfew was put in place in the port city of
Dammam, the province of Qatif in the east, and the city of Taif in the
west.

The measure was taken to combat the pandemic and fulfill the health
authorities’ recommendations. Meanwhile, services such as banks, food
shops and medical centers will continue to work.11:53

The
number of cases of the coronavirus in Romania has increased by 445 over
the past 24 hours, bringing the total toll of those infected to 3,183,
while related fatalities have reached 116, Health Minister Nelu Tataru
said on Friday.

“As of today, we have lost 116 patients. I offer my condolences to everyone who lost loved ones. To date, 3,183 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Romania, 281 patients have been cured,” Tataru said at a briefing broadcast on the national government’s Facebook account.

11:16

Total Number of COVID-19 Cases in Palestinian National Authority Rises by 10 to 171

Palestine
has registered 10 more coronavirus cases in the country, and now the
total number of those infected has reached 171, a spokesman for the
Palestinian government Ibrahim Melhem said on Friday.

“Ten COVID-19 cases were recorded. This brings the total to 171,” Melhem said.

He added that the new patients were in the city of Tulkarm, and in the towns of Biddu, Qatanna and Hizma.

Meanwhile, 250 Palestinian workers arrived from Israel overnight, but
their test results will only be announced in the next few hours, he
said.10:49

Armenia
has requested 10,000 COVID-19 testing kits from Russia, and has already
received 3,000 of them, Alina Nikoghosyan, spokesperson for the
country’s Health Ministry, told Sputnik on Friday.

“Armenia has turned to Russia [for assistance]
, including for testing
COVID-19] kits. We have already received about 3,000 kits and are
expecting a new batch in the near future,” Nikoghosyan said, adding that
Yerevan had applied for 10,000 kits.

To date, the Armenian Center for Disease Control and Prevention has registered 736 confirmed cases in the country. In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, the authorities declared a state of emergency on March 16, which the country will remain under until April 14.

10:43

Number of Coronavirus Cases in Switzerland Rises to 19,303, Death Toll Rises to 484

The
number of COVID-19 cases in Switzerland has increased to 19,303,
including 484 fatalities, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said
on Friday.

According to the statement, 1,036 new COVID-19 cases and 52 fatalities have been registered in Switzerland over the past 24 hours.

10:36

China Will Not Use COVID-19 Pandemic to Boost Geopolitical Influence – Foreign Ministry

China
is willing to share its expertise in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic
with other countries but will never resort to using it as a tool to
boost its geopolitical profile, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua
Chunying said on Friday.

“As you are aware, COVID-19 pandemic is a sudden crisis that demands a
swift response. Currently, we must focus on safeguarding the health and
lives of people across the globe. Speaking of China’s efficient
measures and expertise in the fight against the epidemic, we will never
use them as instruments for geopolitical influence,” the spokeswoman
said, adding that Beijing would be glad if other countries could use
some of Chinese measures or suggestions.

So far, COVID-19, which was first detected in the Chinese province of
Hubei, has spread to over 200 countries, racking up over one million
confirmed cases in total.10:36

Number of COVID-19 Cases in Belgium Exceeds 16,000

The
number of COVID-19 cases in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev has increased
from 161 to 189, including two new fatalities adding up to a death toll
of three, Kiev Mayor Vitaliy Klichko said on Friday.

“The number of Kievans who have contracted the coronavirus over the
past day has unfortunately increased by 28 and two people have died.
There has been a total of 189 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease
in the capital, of which three were lethal,” Klichko said at a
briefing.

Of 28 new COVID-19 cases in Kiev, 17 were confirmed in male patients
aged 16-70 and 11 others were confirmed in female patients aged 17-69,
whereas the two new fatalities were both in females, according to the
mayor.

He also said that only 13 patients had been taken to a hospital, while the rest were getting treatment in quarantine at home.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has confirmed 942 COVID-19 cases, including 23 fatalities, as of Friday.10:27

Lithuania’s Toll of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases Approaches 700

The
number of cases of the coronavirus in Lithuania has reached 696 with 47
of them being registered over the past 24 hours, the national
government said on Friday.

According to the authorities, so far, nine patients have died and seven others have recovered.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Latvia confirmed 35 new cases of the disease
on Friday, which brings the total toll of those infected in the country
to 493, according to the National Center for Disease Prevention and
Control. The authorities have reported so far only one fatality.10:15

German Interior Minister Wants to Expand Border Controls, Quarantine People Arriving by Plane

09:57

Iran’s Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 3,294, Over 53,000 People Infected So Far

The
number of COVID-19 cases in Iran has reached a total of 53,183 cases,
including 3,294 fatalities, the Iranian Health Ministry’s spokesman told
the IRINN channel on Friday.

According to Kianush Jahanpur, 2,715 new COVID-19 cases and 134 fatalities have been registered in Iran over the past 24 hours.

The record daily numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths that Iran has registered so far are 3,186 and 157 respectively.

09:35

The Death Toll from COVID-19 in Spain Rises to 10,935 – Health Ministry

MOSCOW
(Sputnik) – Nationals of 131 countries will now be able to see how the
dynamic of people’s movements in their community has changed after the
COVID-19 restrictions on movements in regular reports using aggregated
anonymized data from Google’s services, the company said on Friday.

“Starting today we’re publishing an early release of our COVID-19
Community Mobility Reports to provide insights into what has changed in
response to work from home, shelter in place, and other policies aimed
at flattening the curve of this pandemic,” the company said on its
website.

According to the statement, the reports will be using aggregated data
to outline movement trends in initially 131 countries – their number to
be increased soon and several regions to potentially add up as well –
in places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies,
parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. To protect users’
privacy, the company pledged not to share any personally identifiable
information, like an individual’s location, contacts or movement.

Google cited public health officials as reaching out to say that “the
same type of aggregated, anonymized insights [that Google uses]
in
products such as Google Maps could be helpful as they make critical
decisions to combat COVID-19.”

The company said it will record not the actual number of visits to
such places, but rather their percentage point increase or decrease over
the previous several weeks, with the latest timestamp being 48 to 72
hours prior to the release.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March
11. To date, close to 100 countries have introduced quarantines and
other restrictions on people’s movements in a bid to curb the spread of
the infection. As of Friday, the global toll of COVID-19 has exceeded
one million cases with over 53,000 fatalities, according to statistics
compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.09:09

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328 new cases of #COVID19;Lagos-121FCT-70Bauchi-25Rivers-18Oyo-16Kaduna-15Gombe-14Edo-13Ogun-13Jigawa-8Enugu-6Kano-5Osun-2Ondo-2 328 new cases of #COVID19;Lagos-121FCT-70Bauchi-25Rivers-18Oyo-16Kaduna-15Gombe-14Edo-13Ogun-13Jigawa-8Enugu-6Kano-5Osun-2Ondo-211844 cases of #COVID19NigeriaDischarged: 3696Deaths: 333 pic.twitter.com/XQ3B7O0yIb— NCDC (@NCDCgov) June 5, 2020 HighlightsOn the 5th of June 2020, 328 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in NigeriaNo new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.Till date, 11844 cases have been confirmed, 3696 cases have been discharged and 333 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital TerritoryThe 328 new cases are reported from ...

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